Fireplace air feeder construction



May 17, 1949. R. H. CARTER FIREPLACE AIR FEEDER CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 550, 1945 I 3mm Eerie!" May 17, 1949. R. H. CARTER 2,470,430

FIREPLACE AIR FEEDER CONSTRUCTION Filed June 50, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 17, 1949. v R. H. CARTER 2,470,430

' FIREPLACE AIR FEEDER CONSTRUCTION Filed June so, 1945 W 5 Shets-Sheet s INVEN TOR.

Jili- Serial" ,4 TTOR/VE Y5 Patented May 17, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIREPLACE FEEDER CONSTRUGTION- Randolph Hicks Carter;.Wancnton; Va;

ApplicatlonJuneBO, 1945, Serial No. 602,511

'TCIMIIIS. (Cl. 126-120) This invention relates to fireplace construction, and more particularly to an improvement for use in connection. with fireplaces.

This specification is a continuation in part. of my abandoned application, Serial No. 518,435, filed January 15, 1944.

One of the principal objections to. fireplaces as the source of heat for dwellings is the fact that the draft created by thefire in thefireplace fiue, as well as the air required'in the combustion of the fuel,.isdrawn from the roomin-whichthe fireplace is located and necessarily brought into the room by cracks. around doors and windows, thus creating undesirable cold. drafts in=the room and restricting theactual heating value. of the fireplace to the radiation uponpersons or objects sitting directly in front of the fire. A fur.- ther objection is the. common: tendency of ordinary fireplaces to smoke.

The object of the present: invention. is tolprovide a simple device which may be built into a new fireplace. and which will, imthatconnection, simplify the fireplace constructionor whichmaybe added to fireplaces already constructed; or supplied. in the form of aremovable attachment. where desiredior useineither fireplaces or stoves adapted to introduce into the fireplace a supply-1 of air from. outside the, building. suflicientr to provide adequate combustion for. the fuel and supply the normal amount oi air. withdrawnrby. the flue from the fireplace, thereby materially reducing, if not entirely eliminating thewith drawal ofair from the room.

A further object is to provide-.adevice. which hasbeen found to effectively preventsmokeescaping into the room.

The invention consists in the novel-construe.-

tion, arrangement and combinations of parts. hereinafter more particularly described and.

claimed.

Three sheets of drawings accompany this specification as part thereof, in which like reference characters indicate likeparts throughout.

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical cross sectlon through a fireplace showing one form of. the present invention installed;

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-section taken on line Zr-20f Figural;

Figure 3 is a. fragmentary horizontal crosssection shown through a fireplace with'the'prea ent invention installed, illustrating another mode" of supplyingair: to the device;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section taken on line 4--ofrFigure 3;

Figure 5 is. a fragmentary" vertical cross 2 section through. a fireplace hearth showing a further modified means of supplying. air to the fireplace;

Figure file a vertical transverse cross-section through afireplace showing another modified form 10f thedevice Figure 7 is a vertical transverse cross-section througha fireplace showing a still further modified form of the device in position;

Figure. 8 isa horizontal cross section: taken on line 88 of Figure "7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section-showing a modified form ofadjustment de- VICE.

Figure 10 is a vertical. cross section through a-modifi'ed-form ofthe device.

Figure 11 is ahorizontal. cross-section taken on line ll-H oiFigure 10.

In accordance with the present invention, an elongatednozzle is positioned atthe front of the hearthproper 2 of the fireplace andlextending from side-wall. to side-wall of thefireplace. As. illustrated-in Figures 1 to 6, the nozzle 5 isformed by spaced metal plates which converge to a re.- stricted longitudinal aperture adapted to direct air from the nozzle in the form of a curtain upwardly and rearwardly toward the back I- of the fireplace.

Associated with the nozzle structure 5' is. an elongated lid'or. cover 8 hingedly connected adjacent to the nozzlemouth and adjustably supported from the hearth asby threaded bolt 9. This cover can be used either to entirely close the mouth of. the nozzle. 5'01- to cooperate with the nozzle in adjusted positions in modifying the direction ofitheai'rcurtain.

The nozzle 5- is. associated with a conduit 6 which, as illustrated in. Figure 1-, is particularly adapted for use in the construction of new fireplaces and. which as illustrated extends diagonally backwards under the hearth sothat its upper wall l5 can be. utilizedin:theconstruction' of the fireplace. to support the hearth structure 2. The conduit 6 is. connected to an orifice l passing through the. back chimney wall through which air is admitted through conduit 6 to the nozzle '5.

In theapplicationof the. device shown in Figures 3 and 4, the nozzle 5 isassociated with a similar conduit 6,,but the air is supplied to-the conduit 6 from the side through a subsidiary fiue I0 built into the. chimney. In this arrangement the air iorthe nozzle willbe drawn downwardly through the flue l0 thence through the conduit.

Gand'suppliedtotlie nozzle 51 In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure the nozzle 5 communicates with the conduit 6 which may be arranged in the cellar below the room in which the fireplace is positioned and which will communicate with the exterior at any convenient point.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 4 the standard ash chute 3 can be conveniently passed through the conduit 6.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 6 the nozzle 5 communicates with a conduit 6 in the cellar which is provided witha downwardly sloping fioor communicating with an outlet 3' so that ashes can be swept from the hearth floor into the nozzle 5 and discharged through the inclined chute 3' into a bin in the chimney structure below.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 the device is constructed as a removable attachment and comprises spaced plates II and I2 separated by spacer members l3 and the conventional ash chute structure 3 can be conveniently connected with a suitable orifice in the upper or false hearth plate l2. The plates l I and I2 conform in shape and arrangement with the hearth floor of the fireplace and the lower plate ll extends beyond and is bent upwardly so as to form with the forward edge of the upper plate I2 the outlet nozzle 5 adapted to direct the air current upwardly and backwardly toward the rear wall I in the fireplace as in the other forms of the invention illustrated.

Where such a removable structure as illustrated in Figure 7 is utilized, it will only be necessary to cut a relatively small air inlet I in the back wall of the chimney communicating with the space between the plates l I and I2.

It will be noted that the structure illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 can be used with either masonry or metal fireplaces.

As illustrated in Figure 9, the adjustable support is shown in a preferred form as a bell crank 15 having one arm formed with a terminal eye I 6 to receive the end of a poker and the other end threaded and carrying an adjustable nut 9'. This permits adjustment with a poker to direct the air flow either more directly on the fire or upwards toward the flue, as desired.

In Figures 10 and 11 are illustrated modifications of the nozzle construction in which a tube or pipe l1 provided with parallel, spaced, longitudinally extending slots l8 and l!) is rotatably mounted as by means of straps 20 one at each end and provided with a handle 2| by means of which it may be rotated on its long axis to vary the angularity of the air discharge slot I 8 with respect to the hearth, fire and fiue. The upper edge of the slot I8 is preferably beveled to cooperate with the adjacent edge of the hearth to shear any embers. With this construction ashes may be swept from the hearth through the nozzle and conduit into the ash depository below.

In this form it has been found desirable to associate a second nozzle parallel with the valve 11 comprising spaced side members 22 and 23 extending from side wall to side wall of the fireplace, one of these side members 22, having a. portion 24 hinged thereto and provided with a threaded control bolt 25 by means of which the angularity of the air discharge may be controlled.

With this supplementary nozzle, it will be noted that when the fire is being lighted or when thereafter new fuel is added and it is desired to supply.-

can be adjusted so as to direct the outlet slot l8 directly on the fire While, at the same time, a curtain of air directed upwardly and across the face of the fireplace opening from the nozzle formed by the members 2324 will still operate to effectively seal the combustion chamber from the room, thus preventing any eddies of smoke from the fire from escaping into the room.

The curtain of air sealing the combustion chamber of the fireplace from the room, thus operates to prevent smoke escaping into the room, and by excluding air from the room, makes control of the rate of combustion of the fire subject to much more exact regulation than hitherto possible.

Various other modifications will readily sugest themselves to those skilled in the art, but within the scope of the present invention, as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a fireplace including an open front combustion chamber with side and back walls, hearth and chimney flue, the hearth provided with an elongated slot extending from side wall to side wall at the front of and within said side walls of said combustion chamber, conduit means for supplying air to said slot from the exterior of the room into which the fireplace opens and valve means positioned in said conduit comprising a tube of less width than the conduit extending from side wall to side wall, said tube having two parallel longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced slots adapted to register selectively with the conduit and the combustion chamber, and means for rotating said tube on its long axis and horizontally spaced deflectors extending lengthwise of the conduit parallel with the tube defining a nozzle outlet exterior to and coextensive in length with said tube.

2. In combination with a fireplace including an open front combustion chamber with side and back walls, hearth and chimney flue, the hearth provided with an elongated slot extending from side wall to side wall at the front of the combustion chamber, conduit means for supplying air to said elongated slot from the exterior of the room into which the fireplace opens and valve means positioned in said conduit comprising a tube of less width than the conduit extending from side wall to side wall, said tube having two parallel longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced slots adapted to register selectively with the conduit and the combustion chamber, with means for rotating said tube on its long axis, and horizontally spaced deflectors extending lengthwise of the conduit parallel with the tube defining a nozzle outlet exterior to and coextensive in length with said tube arranged to direct air into said combustion chamber and over the fire therein with the deflector adjacent the tube arranged substantially tangently with respect to that tube.

3. In combination with a fireplace including a combustion chamber having side and back walls, a hearth, a flue, and a front opening communicating with a room to be heated, said hearth having an upwardly open elongated slot at the front of said combustion chamber and at the bottom level of said front opening and extending from side wall to side wall of said combustion chamber, conduit means for supplying air to said slot from the exterior of said room, a rearwardly upwardly directed deflecting member pivotally mounted at the front edge of said slot for directing air generally upwardly and backwardly toward the interior of said combustion chamber, and means for varying the angular position of said deflecting member whereby the air from the exterior of the room will be directed toward the combustion chamber so that the flue draft will entrain cool air from said slot in the form of a curtain which is coextensive with said fireplace opening.

4. In combination with a fireplace including a combustion chamber having side and back walls, a hearth, a flue and a front opening communicating with the room to be heated, an elongated upwardly open aperture in said hearth extending from side wall to side Wall of said combustion chamber, conduit means for supplying air to said aperture from the exterior of said room, means directed rearwardly upwardly and operatively associated with said aperture and serving as an extension of the upper edge of d said aperture and thereby forming the front lowermost edge of said opening between said fireplace and said room for directing air issuing from said aperture upwardly into said fireplace toward said flue whereby the flue draft entrains a curtain of cool air across the front of said opening to efiectively isolate the air in said room from the air in said combustion chamber and prevent the heated gases and smoke in said combustion chamber from entering said room.

5. In combination with a fireplace including an open front combustion chamber having side and back walls, a hearth and a flue, said fireplace being in open communication with a room to be heated, a nozzle at the front of said combustion chamber having an eduction slot for admitting air to said combustion chamber from a source extraneous to said room, said eduction slot being arranged within said fireplace and extending from side wall to side wall of said combustion chamber, the edge of said eduction slot of said nozzle being operatively associated with said hearth so as to constitute the lowermost edge of the open space between said room and said combustion chamber, said nozzle having an upwardly rearwardly directed deflecting member so positioned relative to said combustion chamber as to direct the air issuing from said nozzle rearwardly and upwardly into said fireplace toward said flue, conduit means for supplying air to said nozzle from the exterior of said room whereby air issuing from the elongated slot of said nozzle will be entrained by the flue draft in the form of a curtain of cool air which is coextensive with said fireplace opening to effectively isolate the air in said room from the air in said combustion chamber and to prevent the heated gases and smoke in said combustion chamber from entering said room.

6. In combination with a fireplace including an open front combustion chamber with side and back walls, a hearth and chimney flue, parallel spaced nozzles extending from side wall to side wall within the combustion chamber adjacent the hearth and at the front of the combustion chamber, said nozzles being upwardly open and including a rearwardly upwardly directed deflecting member for directing air in a direction over the fire and toward the rear of the combustion chamber, conduit means for supplying air to said nozzles from the exterior of said fireplace into which the fireplace opens, and means for adjusting said nozzles to vary the angularity of the streams of air therefrom within said combustion chamber.

7. In combination with a fireplace including an open front combustion chamber with side and back walls, a hearth and chimney flue, said hearth being provided with an upwardly open elongated aperture extending from side Wall to side wall at the front of said combustion chamber, conduit means for supplying air to said elongated aperture from the exterior of the room into which the fireplace opens and valve means positioned in said conduit comprising a tube extending from side wall to side wall, said tube havin two parallel longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced slots adapted to register selectively with said conduit and said combustion chamber, said slots being so spaced that when one slot registers with said conduit the upper edge of the other of said slots will be in a position for directing air upwardly and rearwardly toward the interior of said combustion chamber, and means for rotating said tube on its long axis.

RANDOLPH HICKE CARTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file 'of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 12,491 Smith, et a1. Mar. 6, 1855 56,379 Cowan July 17, 1866 131,994 Bradford Oct. 8, 1872 207,362 Lester Aug. 27, 1878 219,530 Sage Sept. 9, 1879 1,711,090 Ford, et al Apr. 30, 1929 1,943,223 Lutz Jan. 9, 1934 2,103,171 Nilson Dec. 21, 1937 2,375,318 Mudgett May 8, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 635 Great Britain 1903 3,465 Great Britain 1877 308,136 Great Britain Mar. 21, 1929 28,089 Great Britain 1910 411,890 Great Britain June 11, 1934 460,136 Great Britain Jan. 22, 1937 

